Recognising Cybersecurity Excellence: The 2026 Proofpoint EMEA Innovation Awards - Proofpoint

Blog Corporate News Recognising Cybersecurity Excellence: The 2026 Proofpoint EMEA Innovation Awards SHARE WITH YOUR NETWORK! JULY 14, 2026 Celebrating the cybersecurity leaders, teams and organizations driving innovation across EMEA Cybersecurity innovation has never been more important. As organisations embrace AI at unprecedented speed, security leaders are being challenged to innovate just as quickly. According to recent Proofpoint research, 87% of organisations have deployed AI assistants beyond the pilot stage, while 42% have already experienced a suspicious or confirmed AI-related security incident. At the same time, 94% of organisations report challenges managing increasingly complex security environments. Against this backdrop, security teams across Europe, the Middle East and Africa are finding new ways to strengthen resilience, simplify operations and protect their organisations from evolving threats. At Proofpoint, we are proud to work alongside customers who are leading this transformation. That's why we're inviting organisations across the region to enter the 2026 Proofpoint EMEA Innovation Awards and share the innovative work they're doing to strengthen cybersecurity. Recognising excellence in cybersecurity The 2026 EMEA Innovation Awards honour the individuals, teams and organisations that are making a significant impact through leadership, innovation and operational excellence. This year's awards include six categories: Cyber Visionary of the Year – Recognising exceptional security leadership and strategic vision. Cyber Defender of the Year – Celebrating security professionals who have demonstrated excellence in protecting their organisations. Security Culture Champion – Honouring organisations that have successfully embedded security awareness and positive security behaviours across their workforce. Security Transformation of the Year – Recognising teams and organisations that have delivered impactful security modernization initiatives. Platform Excellence Award – Highlighting organisations that have achieved outstanding results through their use of the Proofpoint platform. AI Innovation Award – Celebrating innovative applications of AI that strengthen cybersecurity outcomes and help organisations stay ahead of emerging threats. Judged by industry experts All submissions will be reviewed by a judging panel comprising of Proofpoint’s senior cybersecurity leaders from across the EMEA region, and globally. Nominations will be evaluated based on innovation, business impact, implementation excellence and measurable outcomes, ensuring that winners represent the very best examples of cybersecurity achievement across the region. Why participate? The awards provide an opportunity to showcase your organisation's success, recognise the people behind that success and share your story with the wider cybersecurity community. All qualifying nominees will be featured in the online Proofpoint Innovation Gallery, which will launch in September 2026, providing visibility across the broader cybersecurity community and highlighting the innovative work being carried out by organisations across EMEA. Key dates Nominations close: August 28th, 2026 Innovation Gallery launches: September 2026 Award winners will be announced at our local Proofpoint Protect events across EMEA, starting in November 2026, followed by additional regional events throughout the season. Submit your nomination Whether you've led a major security transformation, built a culture of security awareness, advanced threat defence capabilities or pioneered new uses of AI, we want to hear your story. The cybersecurity challenges facing organisations today require creativity, leadership and a willingness to innovate. The Proofpoint EMEA Innovation Awards are an opportunity to celebrate those who are setting new standards for excellence and helping shape the future of cybersecurity across the region. Learn more about the Proofpoint EMEA Innovation Awards and submit your nomination today: https://www.proofpoint.com/uk/emea-innovation-awards. Previous Blog Post